What Should You Know About Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 is a crucial nutrient for your body. Your body needs it to carry out several different processes such as energy production, oxygen travel, central nervous system function, and DNA synthesis. There is no production of this nutrient in your body. You get it from the foods you take as your meal. Your body stores it for a period of up to 5 years. And any lack in it leads you to have vitamin B12 deficiency or anemia. To be aware of the current status of this valuable nutrient, you can opt for a vitamin B12 and vitamin D test in Greater Noida or your local city. On your wish, you can go for a full body checkup, which consists of a parameter, vitamin B12. Here is more on what you should know about vitamin B12 deficiency or anemia:
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 carries out several functions in your body in addition to keeping your nervous system healthy. A little low amount in it can cause several problems in your body. Some of those problems will be visible. Here are some signs of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Extreme tiredness
- Mouth ulcers
- Muscle weakness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Loss of appetite
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- A lack of energy
- Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
- A sore and red tongue
- Disturbed vision
- Confusion
- Depression
- A problem in recalling things
- Inability in making a judgment
Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency
As a health-conscious person, you can have queries. And what causes vitamin B12 deficiency is one of those queries. Here are some causes of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Pernicious anemia – Any obstruction in the absorption of vitamin B12 in the stomach causes it.
- A lack of vitamin B12
- Certain medicines such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and anticonvulsants
- Intestinal problems
- Gastric surgeries
- Diet – Especially people who don’t eat eggs, milk, or meat
Complications of vitamin B12 deficiency
Some of you might have a query related to the complications or risk factors of this health problem. As per the available data and facts, you can have complications like:
- Memory loss
- Infertility
- Stomach cancer
- Neural tube defects
- Abnormal pregnancy
How to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency?
To diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency, you can go for a regular full body checkup, which includes vitamin B12. However, your doctor can ask you for more tests after interacting with you. The tests could be:
- Blood tests – To check the level of folate & vitamin B12, size of red blood cells, hemoglobin level
- Referral tests – To know other health conditions, you will be referred to a particular specialist such as a hematologist, a gastroenterologist, and a dietician.
Treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency
Your vitamin B12 deficiency treatment can include both medicines, injections, supplements, and diet. It depends on the severity level of this health condition. As per test results, your doctor will advise you on the most suitable treatment. The treatment can include:
- Multivitamin containing vitamin B12
- A respective supplement
- Vitamin B12 injections
- Diet that is rich in vitamin 12
Prevention – How to prevent the vitamin B12 deficiency
You need to pay special attention to your diet. It should include foods that are highly rich in vitamin B12 and folate. Your dietician or doctor can produce a diet chart for you so that you can recover soon from such a health issue. Here is what you should eat to prevent anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Beef, chicken, liver, and fish
- Eggs
- Fortified foods like breakfast cereals
- Cheese, milk, and yogurt
- Broccoli, lima beans, spinach, and asparagus
- Oranges, strawberries, lemons, bananas, and melons
- Enriched grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta and rice
- Yeast, peanuts, and mushrooms
Conclusion
As a vital nutrient, vitamin B12 helps in the execution of several health issues. So, it is advisable for you to keep yourself informed of its level in your body. And a regular full body checkup or specified test can help you in this regard. Taking supplements, injections, diet, and multivitamin tablets/capsules as your doctor advises can help you recover from it.